A father and his son is having a heart to heart talk. With no argument between them. Li Zhi Ming sat in front of his imperial father.

"Are you sure you're letting go of the chance on getting up the throne?" The emperor asked again.

Emperor Wu couldn't believe his son Li Zhi Ming has expressed his wishes to go out to see the world.

"You know that I have no interest in the politics. And I do not wish to fight with my brothers for a seat." Li Zhi Ming look at his imperial father who is getting old but still regal.

Even though his imperial father had never become a good father for him but he admire his father for becoming a great ruler for the country.

It is a hard decision for him. After a long thought, he chose to live for himself for once.

"Promise me you will come back when you are tired surrounding the world." The old emperor make a small request.

He knew that he couldn't hope for Li Zhao to take the throne. He had search for a physician to cure his son but he is incurable. Knowing that Li Zhao couldn't live any longer, the emperor is worried about his son and his country.

Emperor Wu wanted nothing but a responsible emperor for the country. And he saw that character in Li Zhi Ming. However, the emperor also know that Li Zhi Ming don't have interest in politics.

Li Zhi Ming nodded hesitantly. He was about to leave when his father remind him something.

"Don't forget to visit your second brother before you leave. You might not be able to see him again." Li Zhi Ming couldn't believe that he saw a glint of tears in his imperial father's eyes.

Ever since the princes is a child, all of them thought that their father is so cold and strong. This is the first time Li Zhi Ming saw his father being emotional.

"I will." He replied shortly and went away not wanting to becoming more emotional.

While on his way out of the emperor's palace, he saw Duke Chen's Princess Consort Xu Jia Wen with her maid.

He is not someone who is nosy but he just couldn't help but ask when he saw them heading to somewhere in a hurry.

He walked towards the guards and asked him. "Where is Xu Jia Wen heading to?"

"Duke Su's Princess Consort has just arrived the palace. And she seek for the empress's presence. So Miss Xu Jia Wen is also heading there." Hearing Xu Ling Ai's arrival shocked Li Zhi Ming. This is definitely not a good news. He also head to meet Xu Ling Ai.

The Empress sat on her throne with no remorse for what she had done to Li Zhao.

"You don't look so well. You must be getting tired of taking care of that sickly boy." Empress Yi mocked Xu Ling Ai as soon as she saw her.

Xu Ling Ai did not even bother to greet and go straight to the point.

"I won't waste any time. I just wanted to ask you. Do you have the antidote?" Xu Ling Ai was dead serious. She got nothing to be scared of.

A mocking laughter boomed through the palace. The Empress laugh like crazy until a tears came out of her eyes.

"Even if I had it, I won't give it to you." The empress said.

"I will give up my own life for that antidote." Xu Ling Ai's vows surprise empress yi.

"Really? That is a very interesting offer." Empress Yi get up from her seats and head to Xu Ling Ai.

Looking at the previous young lady who is very arrogant and prideful is currently begging her feels very great.

"No way in hell would I help that bastard! He ruin my son's life!" The empress scream on top of her lungs.

The empress forcefully grabs a hold of Xu Ling Ai's neck. Her nails pricked on her smooth neck. Xu Ling Ai pushed the empress with great force until she fell down.

"How did you even thought of poisoning a small boy? How could you?" Xu Ling Ai's voice shaking.

"You know nothing! His mother stole everything that was supposed to be mine! He deserves it!" The empress is turning crazy.

"He deserves to die!" This words bring rage in Xu Ling Ai.

She unexpectedly went up and slapped empress Yi on her face. A sound of smacks surprised the whole servants.

The servants began to hold Xu Ling Ai to stop her from attacking the empress.

"What a bitch you are! Damn it! It has been a while since I curse! I will dragged you down from your fuckin throne!" Xu Ling Ai curse loudly with tears in her eyes. She is incredibly mad and furious. All hell breaks loose.

She is about to went out from the palace when Xu Jia Wen arrives with her minion.

"You can't go anywhere. I will take back everything that you owe me by today. Hold her down!" Her servants harshly tagged Xu Ling Ai's arms forcing her to kneel down.

"Coward. Are you afraid of me that you brought so much people?" Xu Ling Ai stare and smirk at Xu Jia Wen.

"Why are you so late?" Empress Yi asked Xu Jia Wen.

"Your Majesty I brought the item that you told me to." Xu Jia Wen hand out a small bottle made of glass to the empress.

"Xu Ling Ai do you see this? This is the poison that eat your existence slowly but painfully. And no one will save you. Li Zhao is handling his affair and he will never be able to save you." Empress Yi laugh loudly. She had ask an eunuch to keep Li Zhao out of the country so she could harm Xu Ling Ai.

"Do you really think I am afraid? You have no idea what I went through just to be thrown in this era.. Anyway, I got one question here. Are you not afraid of His Majesty's wrath?" Xu Ling Ai laugh at her own question. She just wanted to provoke the empress.

"HAHAHAHA! Do you think the emperor can do anything to me? Even his own son were harm by me, he couldn't do nothing! You! Who are you? You're just a worthless tools that I used to drag Li Zhao down! No one will care even if you died!" Empress Yi screams like a madman. She couldn't control her anger anymore.

"This won't kill you right away.. It will take some times so you will have time to say goodbye to Li Zhao." Once finished saying that Empress Yi pull Xu Ling Ai's hair and forcefully pour the poison into her mouth. Xu Ling Ai try to get away from their hold but there are too many.

At the tip of her eyes, she saw Wu Xi stay behind the pillar. Without Li Zhao knowing, she and Wu Xi planned to expose the empress's true colours by letting everyone in the Han country that Empress Yi tried to poison Li Zhao and kill Xu Ling Ai.

They planned to trap the empress but did not expect that Xu Jia Wen would get involve. Xu Ling Ai realises that this trap will risks her own life but she couldn't care less.

"G-go!" Xu Ling Ai gagged with the poison inside her mouth. If he stays there, she knew he will get involve.

All of them turn their face into the direction Xu Ling Ai is looking at. Empress Yi's face turn ghastly white. Someone is there.

"Who is there?!" Xu Jia Wen turn into coward when she realised that someone is watching. And they are not saving Xu Ling Ai. Which means they are trapped.

On the other side, Xu Ling Ai feels her body set onto fire. Her breath seems to hard. She couldn't let out a word. Her throat choked at the burning feeling of the poison. Her heartbeat become odd.

'Am I dying?' She thought. Her whole body is in pain. Xu Ling Ai fell onto her knee. Her face turn pale and her body shiver uncontrollably.

"What is happening?! She is not supposed to be like this! The poison take times to take her life!" Empress Yi became panicked when she saw Xu Ling Ai fell down.

She turn to face Xu Jia Wen and she had already kneel down pleading for the empress to save her.

"You Majesty I didn't mean to do it! Please help me!" She plead while bowing and crying.

Xu Jia Wen has changed the poison to another poison that could kill Xu Ling Ai on the spot. She despise her to the point that she wanted Xu Ling Ai to die.

"Useless! Why are you so stupid?!" Empress Yi smack Xu Jia Wen on her face. Her hands were totally shaking. Her plan has failed and now everyone will know.

"She ruined mine and Duke Chen's life! I thought that by killing her I would be satisfied. I didn't knew things would be like this! Your majesty please help me! And you're the one who told me to prepare the poison!" Xu Jia Wen's cried out. She get ahold of empress's Yi leg.

Unknown to them, their conversation were heard by emperor and Duke Huai Li Zhi Ming. Li Zhi Ming sprint towards Xu Ling Ai's and hold her. He use his internal energy and pin her Qi to stop the poison from spreading.

"Xu Ling Ai stay awake!" Li Zhi Ming's voice shakily begged her to stay conscious. He is so afraid of all the possibilities of her dying. He shake her shoulder to make her stay.

"I-I'm fine.." Xu Ling Ai croak out a words through her flaring throat. She feels that something is coming out of her gut. Out of nowhere, she vomit blood when a pressure punch her on her stomach.

"Call the physician!" Li Zhi Ming desperately shouts. His hands was full of Xu Ling Ai's blood.

The eunuch rush to call the physician while Empress Yi on her knee begging for mercy from the emperor.

"I couldn't look away this time. I've always look away from countless crime. But now I will take this to teach you and your clan a lesson. I am the ruler of this country. No one control me. Neither you or your great family. Servants! Arrest the criminals and proceed according to our country rules! Empress Yi will be banish to the Cold Palace and will no longer see the outside world!" Emperor Wu finally had his own voice sternly.

"You can't do this to me! My clan possess most of the gold in this country! You cannot be an emperor without me by your side!" Empress Yi shout crazily while being dragged away.

Guess whether Xu Ling Ai will die or not? - R

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